National security acquires new features
Since China launched reform and opening-up and began to integrate with the international community, its exchanges with the outside world have significantly increased, putting its national security in greater focus. Generally speaking, the concept of national security has seen tangible and necessary expansion in China. Initially, national security referred mainly to political security, which held true during the Cold War era.
But thanks to the rapid growth of China's overall national strength, Chinese citizens and enterprises have spread worldwide and thus become increasingly exposed to other security threats. Which has made national security more about the security of Chinese citizens, whether they are studying or working overseas or just traveling abroad.
Other countries, too, are recalibrating their understanding of national security, especially after the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States and the advancement of globalization.